Standing up for Oregon’s wetlands:
a community effort to protect Rockaway Beach
By Alexandra Dolezal | April 18, 2025
There are so many reasons to love Oregon’s coast. Photo of Crag staff enjoying Haystack Rock at our staff retreat in 2023.
Over the past several months, fellow Crag attorney, Eric Wriston, and I have been working alongside Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and dedicated community members to prevent the completion of a 30-unit housing subdivision in a protected wetland in Rockaway Beach. After the Rockaway Beach City Council approved the development despite extensive opposition, we filed an appeal with the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) to challenge the decision.
Eric and I before the Rockaway Beach City Council hearing on November 20, 2024.
A Powerful Moment at the Hearing
Attending the hearing on behalf of Oregon Shores was both inspiring and deeply meaningful. It was a powerful experience to be in a room filled with community members who shared a common goal: protecting these vital wetlands. Time and time again, people stood up to voice their concerns, sharing personal stories about their connection to the land and their fears about the risks this development poses to wildlife, water quality, and emergency preparedness.
Nedonna Marsh, near the Nedonna Beach neighborhood that is threatened by development.
Aerial view of beachside houses in Rockaway Beach. Photo by DLCD.
The overwhelming public opposition to the project was a reminder of why we do this work. The passion and dedication of Rockaway Beach residents reinforced our arguments against the permissibility of the development, and our commitment to seeing this fight through. Numerous community members found the courage to address the City Council and explain just how much this place means to them, and Crag is proud to continue supporting these community efforts through available legal pathways.
Seeing the Wetland We Are Fighting to Protect
Before the hearing, Eric and I were able to visit the proposed development site to see firsthand what was at stake. We saw the dense, marshy terrain that would be permanently altered if construction were to proceed. The site is home to a variety of plants and animals, and it serves as an important natural buffer against flooding. Standing there, it was clear just how irrevocably new development would reshape the landscape, and why the community has expressed concern.
Together, we can fight to protect our iconic coastal ecosystems for everyone! Photo courtesy of Oregon Shores.
The Bigger Picture:
Protecting Wetlands Across Oregon
Wetlands provide critical ecological services, from filtering pollutants and storing carbon to reducing flood risks and supporting biodiversity. Yet, these ecosystems are constantly under threat from development. If this development project moves forward, it could set a dangerous precedent for weakening protections on sensitive lands in Rockaway Beach and elsewhere in the state where zoning laws have been adopted to protect special area wetlands.
By challenging this decision, we are not only standing up for Rockaway Beach but also other communities across the state facing similar battles. Land use laws exist for a reason, and it is essential that we uphold them to prevent short-term profits from overriding long-term environmental and public safety concerns.
Here I am preparing to file the appeal to LUBA this January. Photo by Megan Gleason.
What Comes Next?
As we await LUBA’s review of our appeal, Crag Law Center and Oregon Shores will continue working to support the community in this effort. It is important for all of us to stay engaged, use our platforms, and support efforts to protect Oregon’s irreplaceable coastal ecosystems.
Thank you to everyone who has spoken out, attended hearings, and stood up for the wetlands of Rockaway Beach and elsewhere throughout Oregon. We will keep you updated as the case progresses, and together, we will continue to fight for the protection of our state’s natural treasures.
Alexandria Dolezal, Legal Fellow
Alexandria earned her J.D. with an environmental and energy law concentration from the University of Minnesota Law School, where she was an articles editor of the Minnesota Law Review, a student attorney in the Community Legal Partnership for Health Clinic, and vice president of the Environmental & Energy Law Society. Alexandria is thrilled to join Crag and begin that work surrounded by such a committed group of environmental advocates. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring Portland’s food scene, caring for her many houseplants, and listening to a wide variety of podcasts.